IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Port Hueneme CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many Port Hueneme CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Port Hueneme CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Port Hueneme CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Port Hueneme CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Port Hueneme CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Port Hueneme CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you determine if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Port Hueneme CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.